New York Giants Offseason: Reviewing the Linebacker Position
By Sean Dyer
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Free Agency: Nigel Bradham, Kevin Minter, Sam Acho, Kareem Martin
After trading for Alec Ogletree and his $10 million cap hit, the heavy lifting is likely done for the New York Giants when it comes to linebackers.
If Big Blue could move some more money around (i.e. Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Harris), they could go all-in at linebacker and sign Nigel Bradham. Bradham is coming off a Super Bowl championship with the Eagles and could play inside or outside linebacker.
Kevin Minter, Sam Acho, and Kareem Martin are all potential free agent targets for the Giants because they played under James Bettcher in Arizona.
Minter was a starting middle linebacker for Bettcher in 2015 and 2016, recording 94 and 81 total tackles, respectively. He could be brought in as a replacement for B.J. Goodson or as insurance in case Goodson deals with the injury bug again.
Acho was not on the Cardinals during Bettcher’s tenure as defensive coordinator but played under Bettcher when he was Arizona’s outside linebackers coach in 2013 and 2014. He was injured most of 2013 and started just four games in 2014 but Acho knows Bettcher and considering the Giants don’t have too many pass-rushing outside linebackers, he could be considered. Acho was also a semi-productive starter for the Bears in 2017 with three sacks in 12 starts.
Martin has spent his entire NFL career playing under Bettcher. After starting off as a reserve, Martin became a 10-game starter in 2017. Martin had just 24 tackles and a sack, but like with Acho, he knows Bettcher and New York is short on pass-rushing outside linebackers. At 6’6, 272 lb., Martin also has great size and perhaps could develop into a solid pass rusher.